MJ Thomas exploded for 23 second-half points to pace Sto-Rox to a 65-57 victory over New Brighton Friday night in the opening round of the Ambridge Tipoff Holiday boys basketball tournament.
The Vikings, who improved to 2-3 on the season, built a 21-17 first-quarter lead, thanks in part to Marcus Griffin’s seven points, but trailed 28-27 at halftime.
Thomas, who was scoreless in the first half, came alive in the third quarter, as he poured in 13 points to help the Vikings take a 44-38 lead. Thomas added 10 more points in the final quarter to help Sto-Rox hold on for the win.
Karic Wills added 15 points for the winners.
Joey Kennedy scored 28 points to pace New Brighton.
Moon 72, Worthington Christian 70
Carter Tumulty erupted for 33 points, 21 of which came on 3-pointers, and Michael Santicola’s basket with 2.3 seconds remaining snapped a 70-70 tie to help the Tigers edge the Warriors in the opening round of the OHSBCA Shot Clock Tournament in Canton, Ohio.
Worthington Christian built a 37-31 halftime lead, but Moon exploded for 28 third-quarter points to build a 59-54 lead. The Warriors clawed back to tie the score at 70-70 with 22.1 seconds left, and that set the stage for Santicola’s game-winning shot.
Caleb Waclawski added 10 points for Moon, which improved to 8-2 with the win. The Tigers will play again Sunday against Streetsboro.
Logan Woloshan led Worthington Christian with 30 points.
Avon (Ohio) 60, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart 42
Ali Jaber scored 17 points to power the Eagles past the Chargers in the Wishes Can Happen Tournament in Plain Township, Ohio.
Jaber scored eight of his points in the second quarter to help Avon build a 35-24 lead at halftime.
Joey Ziegler added 14 points for the winners.
Austin Avsec scored 15 points to lead OLSH, which fell to 6-2 overall.
Aquinas Academy 85, Carlynton 76
Jake Guillen scored 20 of his 26 points in the second half, Sam Durr contributed 20 points and the Crusaders used excellent free-throw shooting to outlast the Cougars.
David Zaharko contributed 17 points for the winners, including nine in the fourth quarter when Aquinas Academy poured in 28 points to 26 for Carlynton. The Cougars spotted the Crusaders a 21-11 first-quarter lead and trailed 34-28 at halftime before regrouping in the second half.
Ishaga Barre scored 21 points for Carlynton, including 18 in the second half, while Mikey Jenkins added 16 and Damien Holloway 12 for the Cougars, who lost three started to fouls in the final quarter and fell to 4-4.
Aquinas Academy converted 25 of 29 free throw opportunities to just 4 of 13 for Carlynton.
Countryside 65, Montour 46
The Cougars of Clearwater, Fla., handed the Spartans their first defeat of the season in the opening round of the Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational in Tampa, Fla.
The loss dropped Montour’s record on the season to 6-1.
The Spartans started slowly and found themselves trailing 37-28 at halftime. They were able to cut the deficit to 39-35 midway through the third quarter, but they never got closer from that point on.
Montour was hampered by poor 3-point shooting and the Spartans, normally a solid free throw shooting team, converted just 11 of 25 opportunities from the line.
Montour will return to tournament action Saturday against Luella High School from Locust Grove, Ga.
South Side 71, Cornell 27
R. J. Fischer scored 30 points, including 18 in the second quarter to help the Rams overpower the Raiders and drop them to 1-7 on the season.
South Side jumped to a 25-5 first quarter lead and never was threatened.
Damian Blackwell scored nine points to lead Cornell.
GIRLS: Carlynton 45, Mapletown 32
Jocelyn Griffin scored 18 points and Lucy Vetter contributed 17 to help the Cougars down the Maples in the Mapletown Christmas Tournament.
Emma Saks added six points for Carlynton, which led just 15-14 at halftime, but outscored the Maples 30-18 in the second half.
Photo Gallery by Mike Longo Jr.
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